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Brewers players line up down the left-field line warning track for the national anthem before their Cactus League game on Monday against the Angels in Tempe, Ariz. Matt Kartozian, Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

A young fan proudly display a baseball with the autograph of Brewers second baseman Jake Hager prior to the team's Cactusw League game against the Angels on Monday in Tempe, Ariz. Matt Kartozian, Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

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TEMPE, Ariz – When the topic of discussion turns to right-hander Zack Brown in the coaches’ room at the Milwaukee Brewers' spring training facility, manager Craig Counsell said the same word invariably comes up.

“Competitor,” said Counsell. “That’s a great word to be the first word out. That’s a great place to start, a great foundation.”

Brown, 24, the Brewers’ minor league pitcher of the year in 2018, pitched in the first Cactus League game of his career Monday against the Los Angeles Angels. Starting the game, he pitched a hitless inning with one walk, and afterward admitted it was a big day for him.

"It was nice to get the first one out of the way and just keep going,” he said. “(Counsell) came up to me yesterday and told me I was going to start. Obviously, it’s a bigger stage than a minor-league game but it’s the same game.

Brewers starting pitcher Zack Brown gave up just a walk in his one inning against the Angels on Monday. It was Brown's first appearance ever in a spring training game with the big club.(Photo: Matt Kartozian / USA TODAY Sports)

“It’s been a few months since I pitched in a game, so it was definitely nice to have those jitters again.”

A fifth-round draft pick in 2016 out of Kentucky, Brown, 24, took a huge leap forward last year at Class AA Biloxi, earning Southern League pitcher of the year honors after going 9-1 with a 2.44 ERA in 23 games (22), missing some time near the end with a high ankle sprain. He has been enjoying time in his first big-league camp, always a highlight for a young player.

"I think any athlete, if they can be labeled as a competitor, that’s going to be their biggest attribute as a player and as a person,” he said. “I just have a little fire in me when I get out there. I like to fight with myself a little bit, but ultimately it comes down to me against (the batter) and who’s going to be better.

“I think it just comes from growing up playing. Having an older brother and always trying to beat him at whatever it was. Just trying to beat the neighbors in whatever it was. Trying to take a quiz the fastest and still get a good grade. Whatever it was, I wanted to be the best at it.

“Everyone can see who’s competing and who’s not. When there’s a lot of eyes on you, I have to show them that the moment isn’t too big. The will to compete is huge for me.”